Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[jb747]

To provide some balance...QF35 was early.

 

[Melburnian1]

To provide some balance...QF35 was early.

Congratulations. Happens, but like 'dog bites man' is not news but reverse is. Do we thank your and your colleagues' skills, favourable winds, cooperative passengers who did not dilly-dally at the JohnPhelan 'barrrr' (some inexplicably want to drink before 12 noon), the crew who brought 'the 94' in 25 minutes early or ATC?

It must always be an achievement when 400 or 450 passengers all board when asked. Amazing how on occasion some check in and then less than three hours later are nowhere to be found, disregarding the small minority who have a sudden family emergency.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sunday 13 January 2019 saw the badly delayed LAX - SYD QF18D result in a late departure for QF17, the 1825 hours SYD back to LAX with A388 VH-OQK pushing back at 2241 hours and quickly taking off at 2253. Arrival should be at 1734 in the late afternoon, 199 minutes behind schedule.

FR24 incorrectly shows that inbound QF18 as 'green', reflecting its amended time but the experience for passengers was that the flight had been delayed overnight, so it was anything but punctual. Why FR24 does this is a mystery: its data feed should reflect such delays.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Monday 14 January, QF405, the 0630 hours from SYD down to MEL did not take off until 0808. As at 0931, A332 VH-EBD was holding in an unusual location above Humevale (east of Whittlesea) so its 0805 hours scheduled arrival will become 0945 or later.

Similarly, QF605 from BNE to MEL has been holding for quite some time a little to Kinglake's west, again not a usual location for this to occur. This 0610 hours BNE - MEL took off if anything a few minutes early at 0619 hours so B738 VH-VXS will be at least 15 minutes later than its 0930 hours timetabled arrival.

A388 VH-OQB on QF94 from LAX to MEL, due in at 0950 hours, was running early but won't be now as it is holding above Mt Baw Baw in west Gippsland.

Departures have been occurring at MEL (such as QF418 taking off at 0935 for SYD) so not sure why the inbound delays. ATC has said the airport is 'closed' (to inbounds) so it may be a problem with debris on a runway, or low visibility on approach?

UPDATE: QF415, the 0800 hours SYD - MEL that took off at 0830 hours (B738 VH-VYB) is diverting to CBR having got as far south as Mt Buller (Vic).

The airport reopened at about 1000 so QF405 from SYD landed at 1001 hours, so at its gate it will be 121 minutes late.

QF605 from BNE landed at 1003, so its at gate time will mean its arrival is 38 late.

QF94 was looking as if it may have to divert to AVV but is about to land on runway 34 at about 1010, so it will be about 25 minutes late at gate.

QF477 from SYD to MEL, the 0750 hours, took off at 0827 with VH-VZQ, proceeded as far south as Mt Buller but then diverted to CBR, arriving at 1013 when it should be in MEL at 0925.

The 0910 hours MEL up to BNE, QF610 (B738 VH-VXG) was in the sky at 1002 so should arrive at 1100 hours, 40 minutes late.

 

[Ansett]

Seems there is a problem with ATC Tower being evacuated so will have an impact on todays movements.

 

[Melburnian1]

Seems there is a problem with ATC Tower being evacuated so will have an impact on todays movements.

Thanks Ansett. Was it a false fire alarm? As noted above, MEL has reopened to inbound flights but there are huge problems given a number of flights have diverted to either CBR or SYD as noted above - not just QF, but CA and VA, and I think NZ.

 

[Ansett]

It was an alarm of some sort that required the evacuation but it seems all is good and they are now fully operational and clearing the back log.

 

[Melburnian1]

It was an alarm of some sort that required the evacuation but it seems all is good and they are now fully operational and clearing the back log.

AviatorInsight says it was a false fire indication where the staff held out as long as possible but eventually had to evacuate. As noted above MEL is again fully open but the diversions of some flights mean huge delays for some passengers. As always in these situations it's a lottery as to whether one's flight is affected.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF420 is another northbound MEL - SYD caught up in the false fire alarm that earlier required evacuation for a while of MEL ATC staff. This 0930 hours departure had not pushed back by 1039, so will be more than an hour late arriving in SYD. Aircraft is B738 VH-VYZ.

A333 VH-QPA on QF38 from SIN to MEL arrived at 1046 hours, 31 late.

Earlier, QF79 departed MEL 35 late at 0955 hours and will maintain this to NRT with identically late arrival at 1815 hours suggested.

UPDATE: QF420 was airborne at 1058 on runway 27.

 

[Melburnian1]

Showing how the MEL delays today will affect some passengers on the other side of the continent, QF485 (0905 hours MEL - PER, A332 VH-EBD) at 1118 hours was still awaiting takeoff permission, so arrival 110 minutes late at 1200 'high noon' is anticipated.

 

[Melburnian1]

Not assisted in its timekeeping by the drama in the control tower this morning from a false fire alarm, QF93 (1055 hours MEL - LAX, A388 VH-OQF took off at 1232 hours after pushing back at 1212. Same day arrival should be 0750 hours, 85 late, that if QF11 is held for connecting JFK passengers will delay the latter. Sometimes however such users are instead placed on later AA flights as heavy delays to 'the 11 transcon' across the USA adversely affect QF12 and then QF16/QF12 to BNE and SYD respectively.

Following its diversion to CBR where it enjoyed the tarmac from 1009 to 1037 hours, VH-VYB on QF415 from SYD to MEL arrived the latter at 1233 this afternoon, 179 minutes late.

QF477 that did the same arrived in MEL earlier, at 1143, 138 minutes late.

 

[Silvia]

QF853 CBR-MEL 11 00 hours service was cancelled. Also QF425 SYD-MEL 10 30 hours service was cancelled.

QF683 MEL-ADL (738 VH-VYF) was airborne at 12 58, arrival is now revised at 13 34, 74 min behind schedule.

QF428 MEL-SYD (738 VH-VXB) departed at 12 55, arrival is now suggested at 14 05, 70 min tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF853 CBR-MEL 11 00 hours service was cancelled. Also QF425 SYD-MEL 10 30 hours service was cancelled.

QF683 MEL-ADL (738 VH-VYF) was airborne at 12 58, arrival is now revised at 13 34, 74 min behind schedule.

QF428 MEL-SYD (738 VH-VXB) departed at 12 55, arrival is now suggested at 14 05, 70 min tardy.

Giving the lie to Melbourne Airport's attempts to downplay the earlier delays and omit that there were CA, NZ, QF and VA flights, among others, diverted to CBR or SYD resulting in passengers being hours late. Not a great start to the first day back at work for many businessmen and women!

 

[Melburnian1]

To provide some balance...QF35 was early.

This didn't continue the next day, with the Monday 14 January 2019 flight departing MEL at 1313 hours, 53 late and taking off at 1327 with A388 VH-OQB for predicted SIN arrival at 1745 late this afternoon, 40 late. The ATC evacuation this morning didn't help. With redeye QF36 (SIN back to MEL) not scheduled off blocks until 1940 hours, it should be able to depart on time, fingers crossed.

 

[Melburnian1]

Due to the delay to QF93 on Monday 14 January ex MEL - see above - QF11, the B789 from LAX across to JFK is predicted to depart an hour late at 0920.

The electrical repairs required for B788 VH-VKH must be time consuming as it still hasn;t carried any passengers since arriving in MEL at 1043 hours last Friday, 11 January.

The SGN - MEL JQ64 should arrive on 15 January at 1625 rather than 1435.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF443, 14 January's 1500 hours mid afternoon SYD down to MEL was in the sky at 1546 with B738 VH-XZC. Arrival is suggested as 1707 hours, 32 late.

VH-VZQ on QF815, the 1435 hours CBR - MEL took off at 1515 so at gate arrival is 1620, 35 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Monday 14 January 2019, QF1, the 1700 hours A388 from SYD to SIN and on to LHR is expected to depart an hour late, and, from SIN on Tuesday 15 at 0035 hours, 40 late.

Another A388, QF7, is worse with this SYD to DFW long haul not predicted to depart until 1700, 140 late, with a 115 minute tardy expected arrival at 1455 meaning some missed connections.

A few thousand kilometres away, QF71 (1225 hours lunchtime PER - SIN) pushed back 51 late so arrival is suggested as 1845, 55 minutes late.

 

[jb747]

The electrical repairs required for B788 VH-VKH must be time consuming as it still hasn;t carried any passengers since arriving in MEL at 1043 hours last Friday, 11 January.

Electrical repairs?

 

[ian55]

I am flying on QF 63 next week and have noticed that it is delayed more than it is on time. Today it was delayed by about an hour and a half , and then it took a different flight path. It left Sydney and flew "south west ish" crossing the coast midway between Melbourne and Adelaide.
Was this to make up time?
Ian

 

[Melburnian1]

Electrical repairs?

Sorry, that ought be in the JQ forum not the QF one.

I was quoting from AFFer yld200 who opined:

'Today’s JQ35 1955 from MEL to DPS delayed by 13 hours. New departure is 0800 tomorrow morning. My trip to Bali is off to a great start!

Reports of a 787 down with electrical issues.'

Maybe he meant 'defective wiring?'